Northwest BC hosts numerous volcanoes and hot springs, and therefore has potentially significant geothermal energy resources. This new study helps to assess the geothermal resource potential of the region to guide development decisions by industry, communities, Indigenous groups and government.
Geologic carbon storage opportunities are being researched by Geoscience BC throughout the province, where sedimentary basins and ultramafic rocks are being assessed for their potential to store CO2. This project adds knowledge about potential opportunities for geologic carbon storage to a region with an extensive mining industry.
Geothermal energy resources can provide electrical power and/or heat (direct use), bringing potential economic development opportunities, particularly to remote communities. Public geoscience has been used successfully to develop predictive models to target specific resources and sites and to evaluate geothermal as a viable energy source, reducing risk for industry.
Carbon capture and storage opportunities can be found throughout the province in sedimentary rock basins and mafic-ultramafic rock bodies. Determining the location of suitable rock types for geologic carbon storage will determine where there may be opportunities to develop or co-develop geothermal and carbon storage opportunities in northwest BC.
The first phase of the project assessed eighteen datasets to identify areas more likely to have the most geothermal resource potential in the study area. Geothermal favourability maps were generated for volcanic hosted, structurally controlled (fault/fracture), and sedimentary basin hosted systems. A very high-level assessment of geological carbon sequestration potential was also conducted, with eight areas identified as being worthy of further study. Data gaps and recommendations for further study are presented throughout the report.
The study identified the Mount Edziza/Spectrum Range area in the central region of the study area and the Iskut-Unuk River area in the southwestern region of the study area as being particularly favourable for additional geothermal resource assessment, but other areas showed promise as well. The study did not assess the various technologies that are being developed to extract geothermal energy but focused solely on the geological conditions likely to favour the development of zones of hot rock.
In addition to the geothermal assessment, the study undertook a very high-level assessment of geological carbon sequestration potential. This involved an assessment of the available data for sequestration in deep sedimentary saline aquifers, as well as for carbon mineralization in suitable shallow basaltic and ultramafic rocks. The study noted that the southeast region of the study area hosts the deep sedimentary Bowser Basin; however, existing well control (two deep wells) and other information is so limited that the basin is not identified as having deep saline aquifer CO2 sequestration potential without considerable additional drilling and information.
With respect to carbon mineralization, the study identified seven areas within the study area, and one area just outside the study area, that may have potential for carbon mineralization. Further work is needed to assess these areas.
View the report here.